Englishtown: Jeg Coughlin Jr. preview

Defending race champion Coughlin has grown up with E-town track
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 8) -- Long before he was racking up victories at
Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Jeg Coughlin Jr. was zipping down the
fabled drag strip in his mind,...

Defending race champion Coughlin has grown up with E-town track

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 8) -- Long before he was racking up victories at
Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Jeg Coughlin Jr. was zipping down the
fabled drag strip in his mind, turning on make-believe win lights in his
dreams from the time he was old enough to read.

"I grew up with this track," said the second-generation of the JEGS.com
Chevrolet Cobalt. "I can remember reading about E-town in my dad's
National Dragster magazines back in the '70s and coming here as a kid
whenever he'd race. It was a real thrill.

"This was where all the big-time East Coast guys raced. I always thought
it would be so cool to win here one day because then you would have won a
race at the same place as all of those legendary . I dreamed about E-town
a lot when I was a kid, no doubt about it."

Coughlin began turning those dreams until reality beginning in 1997 when
he won the Super Gas crown at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. He's
since won three more times, all in Pro Stock, taking trophies in 1998,
2000, and 2009. He also recorded runner-up finishes at the track in 2002
and 2007.

Overall, Coughlin has won a remarkable 74 percent of his race day
match-ups at the facility.

"It's a fast track, one that's family owned, just like our company, JEGS
Mail Order, and race I really enjoy going to," Coughlin said. "I can't
wait to get started at this weekend's event."

Coughlin actually will have two chances to win this weekend as he plans
to once again race his JEGS.com Dodge Challenger Drag Pak entry in Stock
eliminator.

"I'm gaining a lot of confidence with that car," he said. "We went come
rounds in Chicago and I'm getting my mind straight on the crazy world of
bracket racing. It's tough, but so much fun."

When he's not racing his two cars, Coughlin will offer support to his
fiance Samantha Kenny, who races in Super Comp, and his brother Troy
Coughlin, who competes in Pro Mod.